25 Proverbs by Geoffrey Chaucer

I just discovered another book treasure in my store inventory. It is the extremely useful and interesting text: "A World Treasury of Proverbs" edited by Henry Davidoff. The editor was kind enough to provide an author index for the different proverbs (when known). Here I'm going to provide a handy reference of twenty-five proverbs from Geoffrey Chaucer's (1340-1400) writings as an aid for the literature or history student. You will note that the Old English (mis)spellings are preserved.

On appearance:
Habit maketh no monk, ne wearing of gilt spurs maketh no knight.

On candor:
I hate him that my vices telleth me.

On destiny:
When a thing is sharpen, it shall be.

On enemies:
Every wise man dreadeth his enemy.

On evil:
Evil shall have that evil well deserves.

On fasting:
Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, and fat his soul and make his body lean.

On fools:
A fool may eke a wiseman often guide.

Fools cannot hold their tongues.

On fortune:
Fortune hath in her honey gall.

On friends:
My son, keep well thy tongue, and keep thy friend.

On gambling:
Hazard is the very mother of lyings.

On gentlemen:
He is gentle that doth gentle deeds.

On husbands:
We wedded men live in sorrow and care.

On joy:
Forever the latter end of joy is woe.

On knowledge:
The greatest clerks be not the wisest men.

On life:
They do not live but linger. This life is but thoroughfare full of woe, and we but pilgrims passing to and fro.

On love:
Love is a thing aye full of busy dread.

Love is blind all day and may not see.

On patience:
Patience is a virtue.

Patient men win the day.

On pity:
For pity runneth soon in gentle heart.

On poverty:
If thou be poor, thy brother hateth thee,...

On self-knowledge:
Full wise is he that can himselven know.

On women:
For half so boldly can there no man swear and lyen as a woman can.

On wooing:
A man shall win us best with flattery.

Blessings!

Source
Henry Davidoff (editor). A World Treasury of Proverbs